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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mattvaill on March 13, 2004, at 22:47:14
“I knew that Rachel was driven, not drawn, into academia. She had grown up listening to her Eastern European father, a professor, denigrate her housewife mother. Rachel’s way of showing him, of avenging her mother, was to become a professor herself." Can't seem to figure this one out. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Posted by Elle2021 on March 14, 2004, at 2:39:27
In reply to What defense mechanism does this sound like?, posted by mattvaill on March 13, 2004, at 22:47:14
> “I knew that Rachel was driven, not drawn, into academia. She had grown up listening to her Eastern European father, a professor, denigrate her housewife mother. Rachel’s way of showing him, of avenging her mother, was to become a professor herself."
Hmm...there are a lot of reason's she has decided to become a professor herself. I'm not sure if what she is doing sounds like a defense mechanism. If I had to guess I would say overcompensation or sublimation. Seems to me that Rachel is trying to get on an equal playing field as the abuser. She might be doing this so she can prove herself worthy to him -or- so that she can denigrate him as he has previously denigrated her mother (since they will be on the same level academically speaking).
Elle
Posted by Apperceptor on March 14, 2004, at 3:10:13
In reply to What defense mechanism does this sound like?, posted by mattvaill on March 13, 2004, at 22:47:14
I'm currently in pre-analytic training...so years from being an analyst. In other words, I hope you've plenty of grains of salt to go around :-).
That said, I'd call it "Identifying with the Agressor," a commonly identified defense (Blackman, 1994).
Anyway, there's always so much more to this. I hope whoever is being affected by this situation is getting assistance in his or her striving toward mental health.
My best-
Posted by Apperceptor on March 14, 2004, at 3:16:41
In reply to Re: What defense mechanism does this sound like?, posted by Apperceptor on March 14, 2004, at 3:10:13
Sorry...to continue in a psychoanalytic context (which I may or may not support myself)...in terms of placing the defense in context, I would assume she is taking the role of professor as a means of defending against the anger she is feeling toward her father.
Hidden Impulse: Anger toward father
Anxiety: Guilt
Defense: I become a professor(for this triangle, see "Individual psychotherapy and the science of psychodynamics (2nd Ed)." David H. Malan, Oxford University Press, 2001.)
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 14, 2004, at 9:38:47
In reply to What defense mechanism does this sound like?, posted by mattvaill on March 13, 2004, at 22:47:14
Posted by pegasus on March 14, 2004, at 13:22:09
In reply to What defense mechanism does this sound like?, posted by mattvaill on March 13, 2004, at 22:47:14
Posted by DaisyM on March 14, 2004, at 13:52:16
In reply to What defense mechanism does this sound like?, posted by mattvaill on March 13, 2004, at 22:47:14
I would venture a guess around shakey self-esteem constructs -- as in it is about what she has accomplished and what she is doing (her work) and not "who" she is.
This is the end of the thread.
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